§ MR. GIVANasked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether the Irish Land Commissioners have refused several applications for advances to enable tenants to purchase their holdings under Part 5 of "The Land Law (Ireland) Act, 1881," when the holdings sold are jointly subject to a fee farm rent, or other head rent; and, whether the Commissioners decline, or allege they have not power to apportion such fee farm rent, or other head rent, and refuse to sanction the mode of indemnity in such cases adopted by the Landed Estates Court; and, if so, will the Government take steps to remove this serious restriction to the operation of the Purchase Clauses?
§ MR. TREVELYANThe Irish Land Commissioners have refused to make advances in certain cases on holdings which it was proposed to sell subject to head rents bearing a large proportion of the annual value, on the ground that the security was insufficient. They have in other cases refused to grant loans of three-fourths of the purchase money of 1104 holdings subject to head rents, but have granted a smaller proportion of the purchase money, holding that, owing to the existence of the head rent, an advance of three-fourths would not be sufficiently secured. They have no power of apportioning rents, and they inform me that they have not refused to accept an indemnity where the indemnity was sufficient and satisfactory.
§ MR. TREVELYANI cannot answer that Question at the present moment.